Locating information on an optical media disc to maximize the rate of transfer

Abstract

A user-interactive program assists a user in locating files on optical media discs such as CD-ROMs and DVDs to enhance file-transfer rates and program installation times in computers with a Constant Angular Velocity (CAV) optical media disc drive. In addition, an application program calculates an optimal location for files and/or directories on an optical media disc so that the files are located near the location with the highest data transfer rate. This program may be used to compute an image file that defines where data will be located on an optical disc, or may be used to control transfer of data to the optical media disc.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09 / 282,582, filed Mar. 31, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,693,869, which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention pertains to storing data on computer-readable optical media discs.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Computer-readable optical media discs are used to store data in a digital form that can be readily retrieved from the disc by an appropriate disc reading device. These discs include CD-ROMS (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), rewritable CDs, and DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs). DVDs are functionally similar to CDs, except that a single sided DVD can store about 4.3 gigabytes of data in comparison to the 680 megabyte storage capacity of a CD. For simplicity, the following will generally discuss compact discs. The principles also apply to single and double sided DVDs as well.[0004]CDDA (Compact Disc Digital Audio) discs were the first optical media discs to store di...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]The invention enhances the data transfer rate of files stored on computer-readable optical media discs when using a CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) drive by locating the files on disc to take advantage of the higher linear read-head velocities toward the outer portion of a disc.

Problems solved by technology

Because the optical read-head of a CD drive is substantially more massive than the flyweight mechanism of hard discs, it takes significantly more time to precisely move the read-head to a new position.

While CLV drives work well for audio playback, their design is not optimized for minimum manufacturing costs, maximum reliability, and optimal data transfer rates.

Because the speed of the motor must be constantly varied to obtain a constant read-head linear velocity, it is necessary to have more expensive motors and control circuitry than would be required if the motor could be spun at a single constant speed.

This additional complexity and the constantly changing motor speed also leads to decreased drive reliability.

If the hole in the center of the CD-ROM is not well centered relative to the pit spiral on the disc, then the read-head tracking circuitry in some drives is not able to properly track the spiral as the read-head moves towards the outside of the disc.

In addition, some CD-ROM discs are not well balanced and some drives are not capable of spinning them at the highest speed possible because the forces generated by an unbalanced disc increase with the speed at which a disc is spun.

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